The Great Masquerade Page #5

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still on the loose,

we'll take advantage and

catch them off guard.

- I'll call Casey and

Collins in the morning.

- Hello?

Yes.

What time is it?

Three AM?

Just a minute.

Dave.

Dave wake up, there's someone named

Fulton on the phone.

- Hello?

Yes.

It's what?

For when?

Tomorrow afternoon?

It's on again.

Yes.

0K3)'-

0K3)'-

Goodnight, I mean goodbye.

The case is on, we leave tomorrow.

- Who's this Fulton person?

- My superior honey.

- Oh really.

Officer Fulton, Officer Fulton,

she's a cop.

- Does she work undercover to?

- Not under my covers,

that's your job baby.

- It better be.

- Hello.

Oh.

Yes I was asleep.

What can I do for you Lieutenant?

Okay Lieutenant.

10-4.

That was Lieutenant Fulton.

She wants us on the cruise

ship Emerald Seas,

tomorrow afternoon at 3:30.

And we're to dress in civis but

bring Keystone Kops outfits.

- Keystone Kops outfits?

- Yes, there will be 10 of us there

dressed as Keystone Kopss.

We have to protect the

beauty contest winner.

- Oh I'd rather go as the

ballet dancer.

- Oh shut up and go back to sleep.

- Don't you even want me

to help you pack.

I always helped you pack before.

- Honey this assignment is

really undercover

and very confidential.

- I won't tell anyone.

- Honey please go to work.

- Alright.

Good luck.

- See you in about a week.

- Come back in one piece.

- Honey you're going to be late.

- Cookie baby how are ya?

Going to work?

- Where are you going?

- Top secret kid, top secret.

Stay cool.

- Hi come on in.

- What a thing to greet

your buddy with.

Oh had a little rough and

tumble last night huh?

- I'm almost ready.

- You know,

I've been thinking.

This isn't going to be such a bad

assignment after all.

- How so?

- Well the way I figure it is,

Fancher is the killer,

which means you and me are

going on an assignment

which doesn't have any

reason for existing.

- Except as a safeguard huh?

- Yeah.

But just think,

all those beauty contestants,

free room and board,

a trip to Nassau,

and no killer to worry about.

So there we are having a ball.

You, me, Faith and Tobey.

Tobey and Faith correct,

and while Tobey's out picking up

the beauty contestants

you'll be in there with Faith.

- Very funny.

- You have to admit

Faith is your type.

- Even though she's a drag, yuk yuk.

- It could be some vacation.

The four of us out on

the Emerald Seas.

- Well, how do I look?

- Like an old hooker in

a new bottle.

- I thought I looked pretty good.

- You never did have any taste.

- That's for sure, look who I

chose as my escort.

Let's go, the ships going to

sail without us.

Thank you.

- Why has the prize money been upped

to $15,000 Mister Gates?

- The amount is irrelevant madam.

After all who could put a price tag

on the beautiful woman.

- Does it have anything to do

with the murders?

- Absolutely not.

- Isn't it true that you've

had a hard time

scraping up contestants this year

due to adverse publicity.

- Why don't you news persons ever

think positively eh?

I don't know whether

you've heard or not,

but the killer was apprehended and

is now in police custody.

- Why is it you allowed known

underworld figures

like Vito Vito to come on board

the Emerald Seas Mister Gates?

- Anyone who gives is allowed madam,

and Mister Vito has always

given generously.

- You don't mind being associated

with that kind of--

- I believe I have already answered

your question madam.

- Well look who we have here

ladies and gentlemen,

underworld czar Vito Vito,

with his family.

Miss Vito, are you going to be a

contestant this year?

- Yeah, I'm a contestant.

- What do you wanna know for?

You gonna make something of it?

- No of course not.

- Then keep your nose out of it.

- Calm down will ya?

A little hot headed, especially when

he's around my sister.

- They ain't gonna see her

in no bathing suit.

- Shut up, they will to.

- Cover yourself up,

what's the matter,

you're going crazy of something?

You looking at her huh?

You looking at her, nobody

better look at her.

- I do what I want.

- Hey uh, let's use a

little discretion

to these stories huh fellas.

I'm depending on ya.

- You're Lucy McRae aren't you?

- Yes that's right.

- You used to be in show

business didn't you?

- Right again.

- And you're black aren't you?

- You're Mister

Sherwood Gates fiance?

- That's right?

- Well how does it feel

to be engaged

to one of the wealthiest

men in America?

- Listen, I don't love

him for his money

if that's what you're implying.

- Oh what do you love him for?

- I haven't yet decided.

- Miss-- - No.

I'm her mother I do the talking.

- What's your daughter's name?

- Oh my name is Margo and

this Jennette.

Yeah she is beautiful isn't she?

38-24-36.

And there isn't a blemish on

her entire body.

And there also isn't a girl on this

ship who can touch her.

Oh I'm sure they're all

very nice girls.

Some of them even with

mothers and fathers.

Oh God bless them.

But my daughter here well,

she's just as wholesome as

a glass of milk.

Well go on, touch.

Go ahead.

Isn't that nice.

- Very nice.

- I'm talking now with Flo

and Ruth Bobish.

Hi Flo, Hi Ruth.

- Wave Ruthie.

- Oh hello.

- You ladies come to the Artisan

Models Ball every year

to collect for the

orphans of the world.

Isn't that right?

- Yes that's right Jenny.

- Yes for the orphans and

here's a picture of one.

- Oh gee, poor little fellow.

He looks really hungry,

doesn't he Flo and Ruth?

- That's why we're collecting.

- Order me a

whiskey sour I'll be

back in a minute.

- Where are you going?

- Gotta powder my nose.

- Inn keeper.

- Jesus.

- What's the matter with you?

- I went into the men's

room by mistake.

- Jesus, anyone see you there?

- Just Sherwood gates. - What?

- It was an accident.

- And what'd you do?

- Well I excused myself

and then I went into

the ladies room.

- Uh yeah?

One thing about you boy,

you got class.

- Excuse me.

I think you dropped this in

the men's room.

- Yes.

Thank you I'm

so embarrassed.

- You needn't be.

The same things happen to me.

- You mean you went into the

men's room by mistake?

- Who's this?

- Oh that's my escort

Tobey Bricknell.

I'm Faith Cummings.

- You're one of the contestants?

- Yes.

- Lovely name.

Faith Cummings.

- And you're

Mister Gates?

- At your service.

- You have a strong grip.

I like that in a woman.

- You outta see her backhand.

- Won't you join us Mister Gates?

- I'd be delighted.

- Well this is my first ball,

I'm so excited.

- They're very exciting occasions.

- You know I remember my first ball.

A little low on the outside.

- Balls,

must be old hat to someone like you.

- No, I never tire of

the excitement.

The color, jocularity, the high

spirits of the occasion,

always given me a positive

attitude toward life.

It's hard not to have a negative

attitude these days

don't you think?

What with all the wars

and mendacious politicians,

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